Inside The Heat

Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo Receives Spot-On Comparison To NBA Hall Of Famer

Shandel Richardson|
Apr 11, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) brings the ball up court against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Apr 11, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) brings the ball up court against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

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Miami Heat

Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo has adjusted to coaches throughout his career.

At Kentucky, he accepted being a role player because he was on a star-studded team that included De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk. He willingly became an undersized center once he cracked the Heat's rotation.

So it's no surprise Adebayo has eased into playing power forward this season while developing a 3-point shot.


"It's always a process when players add some new dimension to their game," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Bam was already working on this two years ago. It took some time to feel comfortable shooting in a game. 

Adebayo moved to power forward once the Heat added rookie Kel'el Ware to play center. While the production was inconsistent at times, Adebayo is finishing strong. He made at least one 3-pointer in the last 12 games, going 25 of 47 during the stretch.

Spoelstra is most impressed how Adebayo adapts to any situation. He compared it to Hall of Famer Chris Bosh, who went from post player to 3-point threat when he played for the Heat from 2010-16.

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"What is common about both of them is there is a commitment to a constant evolution and improvement," Spoelstra said. "That's the thing that I really appreciate about Bam. He just goes to work and adds new things that can help your team." 

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Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Miami Heat On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

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Shandel Richardson
SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star. TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here